Center for Police Research and Policy

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RESEARCH IN PRACTICE

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

ABOUT

GET INVOLVED

Research and evidence continues to improve how we do the things we do, and provides an explanation of why we do the things we do. IACP programmatic initiatives can be traced to evidence showing why a specific model or approach was used, how the project design impacts success of the program, and where the most results will be seen.

The Center has developed and assembled several tools and resources that will assist agencies and researchers to improve partnerships, strenthen outcomes and translate research findings into practical applications within policing.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)/University of Cincinnati (UC) Center for Police Research and Policy will engage in rigorous research that has practical implications for the field and is intended to serve as a national model for the way law enforcement agencies and researchers work together to help protect communities, safeguard citizens’ rights, and ensure the fair treatment of all individuals.

There is currently a gap between research and practice, and the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy will play an important role in closing that gap. Often times existing research does not provide actionable recommendations that can be easily translated into specific, practical policies and practices that could enhance policing. Moreover, academic researchers often do not have access to all the data that police departments have that is necessary to conduct rigorous and meaningful research on police practices. The goal of the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy is to provide a path for law enforcement and researchers to work together on studies that will drive future practices and policies.

The IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy is seeking progressive, research-oriented law enforcement agencies willing to be active participants in research projects - one evaluating the effectiveness/outcomes of de-escalation training and another evaluating the effectiveness/outcomes of implicit bias training. If your agency is planning on conducting training in either of these areas - we want to work with you.

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CURRENT WORK

The Center's goal is to be responsive to needs in the field. Currently, the Center is engaged in two research projects and two literature reviews. Both of the research projects are Random Control Trials (RCTs), one examining violence reduction strategies, the other looking at domestic violence intervention strategies. The literature reviews are diving into crisis intervention teams and de-escalation training.

Research partnerships are a critical component for strengthening policing policies and strategies. These types of relationships fall on a spectrum - from one touch point when a one entity seeks guidance on an issue from the other entity, or can swing in the other direction with full collaborative partnerships.

How to partner, when to partner and what to expect when partnering is important for both the agency involved, as well as the researcher. Here are several resources to assist you in this process:

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tHE tEAM And ADVISERS

Dr. Robin Engel from the University of Cincinnati and Domingo Herraiz from IACP provide the direction and expertise to ensure that the research is meeting the needs of the field and creating tools that provide impact to the field. Hear Dr. Engel's interview for IACPTV discussing the goals of the Center and the partnership between IACP and the University of Cincinnati at IACP's 2016 Annual Conference and Expo held in San Diego, CA.

In 2003, IACP established a committee with both researchers and practitioners to provide input, advice, and direction to the association, law enforcement practitioners, researchers, and the criminal justice system on all aspects of law enforcement policy research and evaluation. This esteemed group is a critical voice for both the academic and law enforcement worlds -- and works to ensure that needs are met on both sides.